Neil Young's new album "Tuscaloosa" is now available for pre-order. Order here(Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link
. Thank you!!!)ADVERTISEMENT

First Review of Neil Young's "LIVING WITH WAR"

"First my biases: I'm prone to love everything Neil records. I feel he's one of the greatest songwriters and musicians of our time.

If I listen to a song of his and I don't get it, I have long learned that that is because I haven't spent enough time with it and that when I do, I will eventually see what he was trying to do and appreciate it. A second bias, just as strong-- and one regular DWT readers are already very aware of and probably in sync with-- is my abiding mistrust for the Bush Regime and the alarm with which I view what they have done, and continue to do, to the country I love so much. The nexus of these two biases lead to an incredible hour of listening."

I'm excited by the review. Even if he is biased, it leaves me confident that I'm gonig to like this... because I'm pretty based when it comes to Neil and Bush too. I can't wait for Neil to put it up on the site. Hopefully it'll be in stores before too long.

I cannot wait for this album....I feel like someone in a desert knowing that a cup of cold water is just ahead....Hope they hurry with the release...but more than that, I hope that political interests won't intervene to prevent its release! Neil Young is one of the greatest musicians of our times..way to go, Neil.

Trust neil to come out with something that challenges the status quo. It keeps it all real. Im really confident that this album will be amazing... we should all get together, buy copies and send them to Bush...

In my opinion, Neil Young is and has always been a key figure in passing the words of truth and peace to the world through his incredible music. From Sugar Mountain innnocence to Impeaching the President....we all need to hear this and hopefully open up our tired eyes to the horrors that are happening to us by our "elected" (cough cough) government. And WE the protesting generation along with all of the people with "blinders" on are standing back with little more than a worry in the back of our minds, are letting this happen...WAKE UP AMERICA !!! THANKS NEIL...Cant wait to hear this... BLESSINGS TO YOU MY DEAR MAN!!!

With all due respect to Crazy Horse, I don't think Neil needs them to make noise. These are the guys he made Freedom with, afterall!

And besides that, it sounds like he was in a hurry to get this stuff down. And having just worked with Rick Rosas and Chad Cromwell on Prairie Wind, I'm sure they were alot easier to wrangle in for the project than Crazy Horse would have been.

I've been a fan longer than I can remember. This is a HUGE mistake. I'll tell you why. It will be the most divisive thing you could do. Your fans are already hating each other. There will be fights, boo's, and disruption from BOTH sides at all your shows. I know you don't like disruption at your shows.

The focus won't be music, it will be politics. In the end, you will only stain your career. Left or Right, the focus won't be you, it will be the audience and their hatred and intolerance and ignorance of each others politics. You shows won't be safe from either side. Metal detectors will be needed. Protesters everywhere we look. Police barricades-the works.

Your making the mistake of your lifetime. After this letter posts, watch the hatred appear. Name Calling, the Left taunting you to release it. Your tours will NEVER be the same old good time they used to be.

I don't think you people have any idea how this is going to go over.I don't know where you live, but in "normal" America, we support our troops AND the commander-in-chief no matter what party he's with!

Cutting and Running is not "helping" our troops!

This will have a MAJOR impact on any tours- (unless he just tours the west coast, France & Canada)

I would probably guess than Neil doesn't really care anymore how many records he sells or who shows up to see his shows. Remember his records in the 80's? Remember Geffen Records? Maybe he figures that he's been given a gift of voice and platform to express himself.

Anon, with all due respect, Neil was a flower child of the 60s who wrote "Ohio" and "Keep on Rockin' in the Free World." Remeber how he mocke dthe first Bush? "A kinder gentler machine gun hand?" He sings folk country garage rock with a message of love first and foremost. He is a self described aging hippie.

So to claim that this is going to divide Neil's fans is patently ridiculous. It is not going to divide anyone seeing that in my estimation, probably over 99% of his fans support his views on this war. There are simply not a lot of war mongering republians who blindly support the "commander in chief" who listen to Neil. To claim that his politics are going to affect his audience is, well, foolish, given his hiostory as an artisit. If you blindly suuport this president, I feel sorry for for you. But claiming that there is more than 1 fan out of 100 that could live with the inconsitency of supporting this president and loving Neil's art, well that's just downright disingenuous.

And I can only tell you how disturbing it is to read comments from people like anon who first take claim of "normalcy" and then blindly show their support for the 'commander in chief' as if President Bush is some kind of infallible prophet.

Would you support the commander in cheif if he was committing genocide? Is that what normal people do?

The state of this country concerns me. Far too many people are unable to think for themselves

Coldbowlofshit, I pity you. I think you are the balding fat one with unresolved sexuality issues. The amount you post also showsyou are jobless, and the way you write, you are clearly the highschool drop out. Take your hatefulness elsewhere.

I personally am looking forward to getting to actually HEAR the new Neil Young album before passing judgment on it. I'm really hoping it's LOUD!!!

I haven't agreed with much of what cold bowl has said. However, if you are posting under the anonymous option, and calling someone "Coldbowlofshit" and then not at least signing your name...well, that's kind of weak, wouldn't you say?

Coldbowl..... I'm Mean? You attack my name and credibility and I point that out and that makes me mean....I point out the inconstistency of your claims, for example, you have claimed to have 3 or 4 different careers,(energy business, economics, and engineer) and that makes me mean. I point out to all that you don't really read their posts, if you did you wouldn't get so confused.... Saying that Lou said he was some kind of insider when it was really one of the anons..... Now you accuse me of wanting to have a kid shoot me, or you? or wtf are you talking about anyway? You don't even read half of what anyone posts, I NEVER said anything about children or guns or shooting anybody..... I know someone did, but wasn't me. But then, that's what I would expect from you....same kind of crap that worked for Bush and his lackeys, getting folks all confused between Osama and Sadam. and, if you keep repeating the same lies over and over, pretty soon lots of folks believe it! You have learned your lesson well, grasshopper......there you go again, proving to all what a buffoon you truly are. Oh, sorry, don't mean to be so mean....

Don't worry, if I was inspired to personally insult you, I'd definitely take full credit and be far more creative. But in your paranoia, maybe you should not reveal that you are posting as the anon whom I wished their children would shoot with one of their handguns. It was funny, not psychotically off the hook angry, like your list of supposed insults like having birthmarks, being french, having divorced parents or being gay.

The Chili doth protest too much, methinks.

I believe Neil wrote a song about you: "See the lonely boy, out on the weekend, trying to make it pay. Can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and, can't begin to say."

there you go again...... You have no idea, coldbowl. I am a veteran, I work for a combat veteran of Vietnam whose son just returned from Iraq... I thanked him, in fact I thank both of them for their service. I have personally met 3 others who have returned and I THANKED ALL OF THEM.....I know they have gone through hell and it's not their fault that our commander in chief is an idiot. I have sent chewing gum, chapsticks, and cigarrettes to the troops in Iraq (yes, cigarrettes, as an ex-smoker who smoked 30 years, I know how hard it can be on a smoker in a stressful situation) I donated these items to a woman here in my hometown who does this kind of stuff on a fairly regular basis. She has drives and sends stuff to the troops. So, you can say i hate america, but once again, you are wrong...And I never said anything about handguns, either way.....You can have as many as you want, dude, it's your constitutional right.

I have shared this with my many friends....all of whom have stood up and cheered for Neil !

I have read many of the beautiful comments from all walks of life here on this site...

I am glad Neil has stirred it all up...

IT NEEDS TO BE STIRRED UP!

I defend the "tree huggers", "hippees" et al....

They are the gentle, the people who genuinely care about the future. I am concerned for the people with "Bush Blinders" on...I WISH...( Neil asked for wishes and hopes)... I was influentual enough to tell you all how you are being blindsided by this elected (cough) (cough) government...SEE MY EARLIER BLOG...Blessings again to you Neil and I hope no one ever has to eat a cold bowl of chili !!!!

I am a Canadian. I can't wait to hear Neil's new album. I myself am SICK of the collective American attitude about Canada. Our neighbours to the south generally don't have a clue what we are all about. The US is like a big black shadow just waiting to engulf this land and take our water, oil, lumber and pay next to nothing for it. Neil is taking a stand and trying to do what's right. Even AJ, host of CNNs Showbiz Tonight said after Neil's interview "anybody who feels the themes in this album are motivated by publicity... that's just ridiculous." The civil unrest of the 60s brought profound change to N. America and the world -- why are people so afraid of saying what they really think? Neil is not slamming the soldiers that are dying every day for Bush's war... he is simply exercising his rights as a citizen of the free world. Keep on Rockin Neil.

Big Black Shadow?that is US! you nailed it! We want your hairy women too! And them Eskimo's Igloo's ICE for our drinks! It get might hot down here where the sun shines and my Margaritta's are startin' to thaw.

You can keep them damn Polar Bears, we alread got "DA BEARS" down here. Let's see, what else, Those Canadian Geese, keep those too! Neil seems to like em' good enough for me!

Oh and keep your health care system that works so wonderful! Hell, I can get in line for Masters tickets and get them long before you turn your head and cough!

YOUR BEER SUCKS TOO! (except Grizzley-that ain't bad!) Oh and we'll keep on protecting you with our military so you can afford all the nice things I mentioned up above!

"Big Black Shadow" man alive, you all thought us southerners were stupid.

Oh and you finished with "exercising his rights as a citizen of the free world"

Trivia question for ya:

WHAT COUNTRY IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY FREE COUNTRY ON THIS PLANET BEING SO?

I was looking at the lyrics to the new album in "Neil's garage""Waiting for the callIt may be a Woman or a black man after all"Way to go, Neil.You're a brave man.All these fucking racists out there and the Macho men will have a field day talking about "A woman" as President.Can't wait to hear this album.Get the fucker out the White house

Ok, coldbowl, I'll respond to your questions, even though you have never really responded in a rational way to ANYTHING I have ever posted.....As far as the 3 individuals I met casually, after I was introduced and found out that they were veterans, I said, "Thank you for your service." As I do whenever I find out someone is a vet. I didn't pry into their experiences, not my business. As for the son of the man I work for, I told him it was good to have him back safe and sound and then we talked about his motorcycle and where he was going to be stationed next. The only remark that I heard from him regarding the war was that he thought the Iraqis were stubborn and hard-headed and that we were gonna probably be in there "for a long time." He is in Special Forces and he was over there for a year, now he is on a 6 month rotation, 6 mos. here, 6 mos. there, for the duration I guess....I never claimed to have deep discussions of the war with these guys. I served with LOTS of combat vets (in 75-79 almost every NCO was a combat vet) and I found out a long time ago it's better not to pry about their experiences, if they want to talk to me about it, fine, but if not, fine as well.....I don't know why I bother to respond to you anyway, you have just been deleting your posts after you realize how imbecelic they make you appear.....

I am from Europe and have read all the comments and I am really shocked about how everyone here feels personally offended by what anybody else has to say... I wonder why..

I can say I have the feeling we all can do a lot better without the Bushes-as-President in this world. I'm waiting for a person to stand up that really serves the USA instead of just playing his wargames.

Neil Young is very right to speak his mind, even if not everybody agrees. It's stupid to tear anyone down for his opinion.

That's one of the nice things about freedom of speach.. you may say whatever you want to say.. chili may... horsewithnoname may. but why don't you leave the other one the same space to speak his/her mind as you do yourself?

I take the freedom to say I do agree with Neil so much and hope with him that Bush will be gone soon. He is very bad news for the USA and the opinion of the rest of the world about the USA. and people like chili only affirm these opinions in my beliefs...

But it's wonderful to experience that music can still blow up so much dust...

You're a hero in my eyes, Neil!!

I just hope more people in your large country and that of your neighbours would speak and think for themselves...

And I hope things will get sane fast... So we can Keep on Rockin' in a Free World... :)))

Well, I only just saw the video, and have not read any of the lyrics, but feel the need to take a shower after having just read some of the posts to the blogs I've read so far. The tenor of the posts can't be what Neil was referring to when he talked about differing with someone's views, and then still being able to sit down and break bread with them. I'm a little concerned about the collective intelligence of these posters, and can only hope they are not representative of all readers of Thashers Wheat.

How can anyone have an informed opinion yet, without hearing the songs first? Because Neil has apparently taken a position one way or the other, that's an invitation for opposing sides to that opinion to savage each other? Wow.

I'll reserve my opinion for after I've heard the songs several times over. Having said this, I will say that it is ludicrous for anyone to hold any of the following opinions: 1) that one has to be a US citizen to express an opinion about realities that effect everyone regardless of who they are or where they live, 2) that to hold an opinion contrary to that of George Bush, or any other president, is grounds for being unamerican, 3) that any president should be followed blindly, 4) that civility should be the first casualty to any disagreement, 5) that one citizen's opinion should serve as the basis for a generalization of that citizens country, or degenerate into the logical equivalent of "so's your mother", and 6) that everything emanating from neil is some final distillation of truth. (I'm just happy that he has provided us all with some much needed grist for the mill).

Everybody take a deep breath, appreciate the ability to have an opinion, and let that opinion grow and expand- after we've all heard the songs.

Libs (Hate America First crowd) just don't get it. This is only the beginning of the war.

Don’t take anyone’s word about what Islam is about, find out for yourself. Please study the Koran and the teachings of Islam. It will scare you; remember the Satanic Versus? The idea that there is a moderate Islam is a Myth!

The tenants of Islam are clear: Deception, conquest, subjugation and conversation to Islam or death. There is no middle ground, no tolerance in the Islamic religion.

Libs (Hate America First crowd) just don't get it. This is only the beginning of the war.

Don’t take anyone’s word about what Islam is about, find out for yourself. Please study the Koran and the teachings of Islam. It will scare you; remember the Satanic Versus? The idea that there is a moderate Islam is a Myth!

The tenants of Islam are clear: Deception, conquest, subjugation and conversation to Islam or death. There is no middle ground, no tolerance in the Islamic worldview.

That's what I've been talkin' about! You got this lady that just "loves & worries" about them! why the HELL don't you "worry" about AMerica?

that's the difference between us! Neil and Libs BASH and BASH and BASH the united states or the president but they NEVER say anything about the BAD GUYS!

stop for a minute. just try to use your imagineation here.

Let's say-for YOUR sake, Bush Lied and cheated and stole Oil and all these bad things.

But right now as we speak, the Iraqi People are without one of the most BRUTAL dictators in the history of man- Now ask yourself, is that such a bad thing?

HERE COMES THE BULLSHIT! "it's the way we did it" "He Lied" who gives a fuck!? We took out the most brutal dictator of modern times and you people STILL bitch!

WHA WHA WHA! America is GOOD! but you can't admit it! WE ARE FUCKING GOOD! we ain't perfect, but we're the BEST! And if you don't believe that, your a fuckin' scurge! You don't deserve to live here or the freedoms YOU ABUSE!

Or country is like a family. We have problems, we try to work it out, but if you CONSTANTLY look for the bad, you get low self esteme. Think positively, try to do the right thing, be kind to your neigbor, but you HAVETO THINK FAMILY FIRST!

It's that fricken simple. But you guys love to LOATH in everything America has done wrong! BITCH BITCH BITCH! FUCK! no wonder we don't get along!

Do you think the GWB REALLY hates Muslims and want to KILL them and out oiwn soldiers for fucking OIL? you SICK! your fucked up! your the ones that are brainwashed!

CHILI HAS BROKEN DOWN WHAT COULD BE NEIL'S WORST LYRICAS OF ALL TIME....(I HAVE NOT SEEN THE REST OF THE ALBUMS)

Let’s impeach the president for lying**NEVER LIED, HAD BAD INTELLEGANCE LIKE CLINTON BEFORE HIM**And leading our country into warAbusing all the power that we gave him**NOT ABUSE-HAD FULL SUPPORT OF THE HOUSE, SENATE, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE**And shipping all our money out the door**?? LIKE OUTSOURCING? HE HAS NO CONTROL OVER**

He’s the man who hired all the criminals**DELAY IS INNOCENT BEFORE PROVEN GUILTY**The White House shadows who hide behind closed doorsAnd bend the facts to fit with their new storiesOf why we have to send our men to war**HE LAID OUT A MULTITUDE OF REASONS TO FIGHT IN THE VERY BEGINNING**

Let’s impeach the president for spying**SPYING ON TERRORIST, LIKE ROOSEVELT, CARTER, & CLINTON**On citizens inside their own homes**OH PLEASE....**Breaking every law in the country**EVERY LAW NEIL?**By tapping our computers and telephones**NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO DO SO***

What if Al Qaeda blew up the levees**I GUESS NEIL TALKS TO LOUIS FARRIKHAN**Would New Orleans have been safer that way**THE MOST CORRUPT CITY GOVERNMENT (DEMS.) IN THE NATION**Sheltered by our government’s protection**WELFARE??**Or was someone just not home that day?**FIRST RESPONDERS MUST CALL IN THE FEDS-THEY FAILED**

Let’s impeach the president**NEVER GONNA HAPPEN**For hijacking our religion and using it to get elected**OH PLEASE.....**Dividing our country into colors**THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE MOST VILE DIVISIVE PARTY ON EARTH**And still leaving black people neglected**NOT SO, MORE & MORE ARE BECOMING REPUBLICANS**

Thank god he’s racking down on steroids**THAT WOULD BE CONGRESS NEIL-DUH**Since he sold his old baseball team**HE DID SELL IT, THE 1ST THING HE GOT RIGHT SO FAR**There’s lot of people looking at big trouble**VALERIE PLAME?-A DESK JOCKEY FOR THE CIA**But of course the president is clean** HE IS-2ND THING HE GOT RIGHT**

Based on two initial listens from the stream at Neil's website this is my somewhat tentative review of Living With War:

Based on two initial listens to the stream at http://www.neilyoung.com

2:53 AM:

I'm a little disapointed.

Here's a quick synopsis of what I wrote at Blogcritics this morning:

I like what he's saying...and posters like Rubberneck may disagree...but I think at a time when our country is as divided as it is, the time is ripe for protest music.

But I expected a lot more musically speaking.

This is kind of like "Mirror Ball" without the great guitar solos. I'm listening to the "Impeach The President" song right now...and the Bush sound bites are pretty cool. But I'm waiting for that great screaming guitar noise to punctuate it...So far it aint there.

Seven songs in. This is more like a Greendale sound. The idea is there. The songs aint.

Personally, my expectations have been turned kind of upside down here. I expected this to be really powerful, where I expected Springsteen's Seeger Sessions to be a disapointment.

So far the opposite is true. "Looking For A Leader" is playing now, and I'm still looking for a great song."O Mary Don't You Weep" from Springsteen's "Seeger Sessions" release says everything Neil's album tries to say without hitting you over the head with it.

And Bruce didn't even write it.

April 28, 2006 6:14 AM

Yup. Definitely a disapointment.

At least on my first official listen, streamed through my computer speakers.

I still applaud Neil for bringing "protest music" back...God knows we need it now like we have at no time since the Nixon years.

But the thing is, for protest music to be truly effective, you need a memorable melody to go with the message. And for the life of me, I can't remember a thing I've just heard. No "Ohio"; No "Southern Man"; hell, no "For What its Worth" (and yes, I know Stephen Stills wrote that one).

Musically this is a slightly louder Greendale.

And again, though I had much lower expectations for it...Springsteen's "Seeger Sessions" hits the mark in all of the ways this tries to without trying nearly as hard.

Glen Boyd is either braindead and or his "heart" is dead. I've been listening to Neil Young's Living with War on Rhapsody, since 7:30A.M. this morning, over and over again. This album is filled with memorable, singable, and catchy songs. It is truly one of the greatest recordings to ever proclaim the need for truth and justice to be done, here in America, now! There are none so blind as those that refuse to see.

Oh yeah, lest I forget Chili and his ilk. Unless you have something positive to add to these posts why don't you take your closed mind, lame brain, dumb ass, good ole boy Republican rantings some where else. Dissent is Patriotic! You can come back after you've figured that out.

WOW...after trying all day to get on the site I finally got to hear the album in it's entirety.I must say...Yeah Neil!POWERFULL, TRUE, DIRECT AND ELECTRIC! Melodical and like old Neil Rust, it jingles in my head and makes me want to dance..a strong dance and TURN IT UP LOUD!. Everyone I know is talking about it even the staunch republicans at work...Thanks Neil for a Powerhouse!

Well the old boy said he had another "Hurricane" in him and my goodness what a great album.Being from the UK i have always had a great fascination for the States and Neil sings about the country it should be.Mr Bush go get educated !

You see...that's just it. Maybe I've set my expectations too high, but that's exactly what I was looking for...another "Hurricane". Or even another "Ohio". And for the life of me, I just don't hear it.

Don't get me wrong...it's not bad. But it's basically cookie cutter...albeit cranked up to eleven cookie cutter...loud, grungy Neil Young. Which I love.

I think the lyrics are spot on. I just can't find a great tune to match those. After my first listen, I couldn't remember a single song. Not a one of them stuck in my brain.

Which is very much alive Mr. Terry...as is my heart...but thanks for asking.

I'll keep listening. Hopefully this will grow on me. But so far, I'm just not really hearing it.

Damn that was simply amazing! The lyrics were inspiring. The cranked up guitar made it all the better. Hopefully this album isn't lost to obscurity like so much of his other amazing albums... Go to the home site and give it a listen! Just google 'Neil Young' and it's on Neil's Garage.

Lastly, I really hope others follow suit with protest music. Iraq is a mess and Bush angers me to no end!

im very deeply dissapointed with Neil. I've been a Neil Young junky for over 30 years and have every album he put out. Neil has been sucked into the drive by liberal media and its so sad. Neil needs to understand that hes alive and free to write songs because of the men and women that die to make us what we are today. ITs a fact that we are free because of past wars.The world is not a bed of roses and is a very hateful place. Its sad there will never be peace. Neil open your EYES, THESE PEOPLE WANT AMERICA AND YOU DEAD !!. I thought your FREEDOM IS IMPORTANT and wont even fight for it. YOUR A COWARD !THIS album shows how naive you are.You have just lost a fan of 30 years with this bullshit album.

Terry David-here is something positive, your an idiot! Plus, your parents are too, for giving you TWO first names, so eat me!

"unless you got something positive"- More Hippo-pocrisy from the left! They LOVE dissention-as long as THEY are the dissentors! Since I think Neil has lost his marbles listening to the IDIOT media and Michale Moore, I can;'t talk???? FU "Terry two names"

JBNETDEV-I feel your pain! Neil has a problem-he LISTENS to the wrong people. Too bad You and Me couldn't have spoken to him before he turned idiot!

He lives in California-the land of fruit and nuts. I suppose if your surrounded by rhetoric, and the lies just get piled on top of lies, and you don't know your history, it's easy to end up Dumb and stupid like Neil has.

These flaming Libs don't have a soulution for any problems, they just like to bitch and moan about everything. They a childish (and that's coming from me), immature and don't know anything more than the stupid "rhymes" that the left Biased media has taught them-

"bush lied, If the glove don't fit, war for oil," that's all the imbisiles know.... I've been trying to get a good debate out of these asses for a week now, and I got nothing! They can't answer ANY of my questions or challenges.

It took them, well one guy, three days to tell me what form of Governementr the United States is under, so what do you expect?

Neil has a lyric "tryin' to remember what my daddy said, till too much time took away his head"

I'm afraid too much time has taken Neil's.

The Album was a horrible Idea and will ruin his carreerr. There will be an astric after his name for being a traitor to our troops-not a true "freedom of speecher".

I'm ashamed of him, and he won't be able to hide behind that fat assed CSN, (even though Crosby is HUGE) this tour. When he sees that the "real" AMericans think, he'll regret his misinformed mistake!

at the very least-this tour, and the three other stooges will be billed as "old, toothless, laughingstocks" A nice way to end your career Neil-you took it in the ditch and you hit a CULVERT!

JAKE GYLLENHAAL has shocked American Gulf War veterans by joking they did nothing but "masturbate" during their time in the desert in 1991. The cheeky 25-year-old stars in JARHEAD, a movie exposing the US soldiers' lack of combat in the Middle Eastern conflict. He said, "The US soldiers were sent to the desert for 122 days and they sat in the same tent and did nothing, except a little too much masturbating."29/04/2006 14:28

This is what I'm talking about-Hollywood (and Neil) are total buffoons when ti comes to reality.

HAHAHHAHAHAHHread "a concerned fans" post. none of that stuff happened buddy. Instead this album has only channeled support for his politics and music during the concerts. No mass protesters or "barricades" or any of that. Ur quite the idiot.also the person who said that this album would not sell out his concerts that persons an idiot to. Im going to one this friday in Hershey park and it was near impossible to get tickets at a reasonable price all the regular priced tickets were taken and we had to get some off an internet site.